Let us provide assistance to the poor with dignity

"The Grinch hated Christmas! The whole Christmas season!

Now, please don't ask why. No one quite knows the reason ...

But I think that the most likely reason of all

May have been that his heart was two sizes too small."

When I first read that one of our state lawmakers is thinking the poor should be drug tested if they receive "welfare," the story of "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" came to mind; but not even Dr. Seuss could imagine that. Yet, it's a dilemma policymakers face.

Rep. Carl Wimmer is considering doing that and said, "If they are going on the public dole, they should be obeying all laws, including not taking illegal drugs," (Deseret News, 11/20/2009). It is not meant to be mean-spirited, he told me. It was not right for people on welfare to use tax dollars to buy drugs. He said he didn't have all the details and suggested talking to State Sen. Dennis Stowell, who had been thinking about it for sometime.

Stowell wondered if that idea was still being discussed. When he brought it up months ago, it was to see how people on welfare could get help with their drug problem and find a job. He thought with limited state funds, it could not be done at this time. I thought it's hard enough for anyone to find a job these days.

Wimmer's reason for drug testing people on welfare shows the dilemma lawmakers face in making public policy — their personal beliefs vs. the public's interest. We generally believe we should help those in need, rather than those who should be helping themselves and who abuse the kindness of others. The question is: Who decides who is worthy of help and who is not?

Public policy should be made on what is in the public's interest, rather than a legislator's personal or political interest. What is the purpose of drug testing those on welfare, and what happens if they fail a test? What's the problem to be solved? How does drug testing those on welfare promote the public good and is it in keeping with our values of compassion, caring for the least among us, and the dignity of every individual? Who is on the "public dole"? Does that include legislators, who are paid with public money? Or are they just the poor, who historically include single-parent women, children, the elderly and the disabled; in Utah that would amount to approximately 358,000 including the 23,000 on food stamps and the other "welfare" programs. What are the costs and what are the benefits? What are the unintended consequences, the cost of testing, policing, penalties, and/or treatment?